Oscar Schmidt: OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele

When searching for a professional quality ukulele, look no further than the Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele. Here is where style and tone come together in a package that will make you want to move to Hawaii and start serenading the tourists on the beach.

Made out of select Hawaiian koa wood, the OU5 has what it takes to sound like a truly authentic island instrument. Add the rosewood fingerboard and bridge and you get a truly warm and woody tone that will bring a smile to your face not just when you play it, but every time that you pull it out of its case, for this little number doesn’t just sound good, it looks good too.

The rich patina of the koa wood by itself is enough to lend this little number an elegant look, but the abalone inlays on the top as well as its abalone binding give it that extra punch that puts the OU5 in a visual class of its own.

The downside is that the OU5 comes with nylon strings, and those can take a bit to settle in. This means that for the first week or so after you pull it out of the box you may find it hard to tune, but if you keep at it the strings will soon adjust and you’ll find yourself the owner of a great little concert sized ukulele.

While the OU5 doesn’t come cheap (~$309) it is definitely not the cheapest uke on the block. In fact, while it is a good bit pricier than many ‘beginners’ models, the OU5 is the least expensive concert sized ukulele that you can find that will give you no grief with buzzing or mushiness of notes once the instrument has had a chance to settle in.

When you purchase the Oscar Schmidt OU5 Concert Koa Ukulele you will definitely want to splurge a bit more and purchase a UC3 Hardshell Concert Ukulele Case for just $59 more, you’ll be glad you did!